Latch and lock



A. F. ERICKSON AND D. W. SHIEK.

LATCH AND LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1919.

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A. F. ERICKSON AND D. W. SHIEK.

LATCH AND LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5. 1919.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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in connection with lockers for the storage of UNITED STATES AXEL F.ERICKSON AND DANIEL W. SHIEK,

OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ALLSTEELEQUIP COMPANY, 0F AURORA.,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

5 LATCH AND Loc'x.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1o, i921.

Application led November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,838.

To all whom z't may. concern.'

Be it known that we, AXEL F. ERoKsoN and DANIEL W. SHEEK, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and Stateof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Latches andLocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to latches or locks for doors and otherstructures. More parthis structure is designed for use clothing orwearing apparel, and is especially designed to hold the mechanism inposition for re-latching when the door is open and to secure there-latching thereof through the simple closing of the door.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a latch andlock, the former whereof will be actuated to engage .the striker/orjamb-plate and be latched without having to raise the operatingmechanism, and thereby insure the latching operation whether the door`is slammed or closed in an easymanner. Other objects of the inventionconsist in the provision of a latch for doors and the like that issimple in construction and which may be stamped entirely` of metal Asothat it is easy' to manufacture and simple in construction and can besold for a reasonable price, or Will not add materially to the cost ofthe structure with which it is assembled. The design of this vstructurefacilitates the locking thereof through the instrumentality of a cabinetlock or padlock or both where such double precaution may seem desirable.Also, by the provision of the specially designed striker or jamb-plate,

the door after being latched is prevented.

from being forced open by inserting a jimmy or similar tool between theedges of the doorway and the door, because the striker or jamb-platecoacts with the latch elements carried by the door in such manner thatthe door may not be pulled outwardly nor forced laterally or sidewise toescape the jamb-plate. The foregoing objects and others are accomplishedby substantially the means hereinafter fully described, and as moreparticularly pointed out in the claims. Reference will now be had to theaccompanying'drawings forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a horizontal section of adjacent portions of a door anddoor-frame of a locker showing the improved construction in plan 1noperative position, the view belng taken on line 11, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the latching mechanism in the center of thestructure, the viewr belng taken on line 2 2,- Fig. 1.

Fig. 31s a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the mechanism raised inunlatched position and about to engage the striker plate.

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation lof the mechor jambanism looking at thesame from the rear or back of the door.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the latch supporting spring element.

In the drawings, similar reference characters are employed to designatethe same parts throughout the divers views, and by reference to Fig. 1,the numeral 10 designates the upright angle-piece forming 'one' dooropemng, and a portion of' edge of the the frame of the locker, whichlatter is con- 'I structed in this instance, of metal sheets supportedupon a frame-work of ang1e strips, similar to that just referred to.

Mounted upon this angle strip 10` are strikers or jamb-plates 11, theone about midway the height ofthe opening ofthe door being aloneillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The outer portion of the plates areoffset or bent obliquely inwardlyl to accommodatel the thickness of thedoor and some of the mechanism carried thereby, as shown in Fig. 1,

and provided with recesses or notches 12 for the reception of the latchclips.

The door, preferably, comprises a sheet of metal 13, the verticaledgeswhereof are folded or bent back upon themselves to provide roundedcorners 14', and are folded flat against the rear face, as'shown at 15in Fig.

1. A slight' distance from edge 14 the folded back portion is formedsemi-circular to provide a reinforcing rib 16 on the back of the door,and the end edge 17 of this bent back; portion is then folded flatagainst plate 13,'all as shown in detail in Fig.' 1.

There. are, preferably, three strikers or jamb-plates 11; one midway theheight of the door, as before mentioned, and one each adjacent theuppery and lower ends of the door, each of said strikers being adaptedto be engaged by Aa latch clip 'of the special construction.y hereinshown.- These latch clips, as seenin the drawings, are, preferably, ofchannel shape, the flange 18 WherellQ l as hereinafter described. Theflange 21 op posite flange 18 is shorter than the same and isconstructed somewhat hook-shape to engage the striker or jaInb-plate,and has its lower edge 22 inclined in the latch bolt or like structure.The folded back portion of the door plate is, preferably, horizontallyslitted, and the metal between these slits is punched outwardly toprovide a strap23 between which tongue is adapted to be slidablymounted. It will now be seen that by raising bar 19 the three latchesmay be disengaged from the the strikers or 4 jamb-plate 11 and the dooropened. For convenience, slots 24 are made in the door frame, andlateral members 25 on the upper and lower portions of a handle 26 arepassed through said slots and secured to bar 19, Handle 26 is placed ina loop, as shown, and by grasping handle 26 and raising the same thelatches may be disengaged, and both the upper and lower horizontalmembers of handle 26 are provided with extensions 25% which are for thepurpose of covering or obscuring slots 24 in door through which thehandle extends when the mechanism is in its lower or latched position.

As previously stated,the principal object of this invention is toprovide means for easily closing the door and insuring the latching ofthe same, and this is done by providing means for automatically engagingand supporting the latch clips with the bar and their associatedelements in an elevated position when the door is opened, which means isadapted to release the clips and associated elements by engagement withthe jamb-plate or other element. Thisconsists in providing a springplate 27, the lower end whereof is mounted upon the rear of the door bymeans of a pocket formed by a strap 28, similar to strap 23, heretoforementioned, and above this strap the spring plate 27 normally extendsaway from the rear surface of the door. The spring plate is deflected orbent slightly to a different plane,

at 29, for thepurpose of causing .it to engage the lower portion offlange 18; also to accommodate tongue 20 when the latter is in itslowered or latched position, as seen in Fig. 2, where the upper portionextends up into a slot m made in the corner of the lock clip between themembers 18 and 21 thereof. Al lateral member 30 projects to one sideadjacent the upper end of spring 27, and this member is also bentlaterally so as to press against the adjacent edge or plate 18' in slota2, as shown in Figs.y 1 and 2.

When bar 19 1s raised by moving handle 26 1 manner of av to the upperlimit of its movement the offsetextension 30 of the spring will bepositioned .slightly below the lower edge of member 18 and will snapundervthe same when the door is slightly opened, as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, in which position it will support the latch clip in aposition above the horizontal plane o-f the j-amb-plate or striker 11.vThe portion of the'spring above odset by the front face of the strikerorv jambplate when the door has been nearly closed, and a very slightcontact made between these parts will press the upper portion of thespring toward the door and release offset extension 30 from the underedge of member 18, thus permitting the llatch clips and bar "19 togravitate with their associated elements and cause flange 21 of the clipto pass over the striker or jamb-plate and engage the o-pposite facethereof to latch the door.

When it is desired to employ a padlock for locking the door, we haveprovided a right angular projection 31 on the spring plate 27 thatpasses through a slot 32 in the door plate and 'is provided with anaperture 33 alining with a corresponding aperture 34 in the lower memberof the handle when the latter is in lowermost position (Fig. 2). Thebale of a suitable adlock 35 is adapted to be passed through tffesealining apertures 33 and 34 and locked, thus preventing the raising ofhandle 26 and the unlatching of the door.

There is, preferably, but one of these springs 27 employed in thisstructure, and this is positioned at the intermediate latch clip. It isdesirable to sometimes employ a cabinet lock upon the interior of thedoor, and for this purpose we bolt such a lock 36 upon the door panel inthe manner shown in Fig. 1, and provide a lateral extension 37 upon' theupper edge of the intermediate latch clip that extends obliquely fromthe inner edge of bar 19 forwardly toward lock 36 and is then providedwith a forwardly bent end 39 that extends the same under the retractablebolt 38 of the'lock to maintain the mechanism in its lowermost orlatched osition until bolt 38 is withdrawn through the operation of thelock in the `usual manner.

What-we claim as new is 1. A latch for doors and the like compris; ing alongitudinally movable latch clip, a. jamb-plate adapted to be engagedthereby when in latched position, means for moving said clip, and aspring element adapted to engage said clip when the latter is out oflatched position and to be disengaged therefrom through contacty withsaid jamb-plate, said spring element' provided with an'extensionprojecting through the door and adapted to be locked to the means formoving said clip.

2. A latchfor doors and the like compris- 29 is so positioned that itwill be engagedl.

lll

ing a latch clip, a jamb-plate adapted to be engaged thereby when inlatched position, a

Avertically reciprocable rod to which the latch clip is secured, meansfor reciprocating said rod, and a spring element adapted to engage saidclip when the latter is raised and to be disengaged therefrom throughcontact with said jamb-plate, said spring element .provided wit-h anextensiofprojecting through the door and adapted to be locked to themeans for elevating said rod.

Y3. A latch mechanism for doors and the like comprising a movable latchclip, a jambplate adapted to be engaged thereby when door is in closedposition, means for moving said clip, and an element arranged to engagesaid clip when the latter is out of engagement with said jambplate,'andto release the clip when said element is in contact with the jamb-plate;means provided with an extension projecting through the door adapted tobe locked to the means for moving said clip.

4. A latch for doors and the like comprising a movable latch clip havinga hookshaped latching portion, a jamb-plate adapted to be engaged-by thehooked portion of said clip, means for moving said clip, and 'an elementadapted to maintain the clip out of latched position and to bedisengaged and permit the latchingjof said clip when said L elementcontacts said j amb-plate.

5. A latch for doors and the like comprising a movable latch clip havingal hookshaped latching portion, a jamb-plate extending into the path ofswing of the door and providing a stop to limit the closure thereof;said j amb-plate being adapted to be engaged by the hooked portion ofsaid clip, means for moving said clip, and an element adapted tomaintain said clip out of latched position and to be disengaged andpermit the latching of said clip when said element contacts saidjamb-plate.`

6. A latch for doors" and the like comprising a latch clip having ahooked latching portion, a jamb-plate adapted to be engaged y the hookedportion of said clip, a vertically movable rod to which the latch clipis secured, means for elevating said rod, and an element adapted tomaintain said rod in elevated position whereby said clip is retainedout'ofdlatched position and said redis lowered upon the Contact of saidelement with f the jamb-plate to return said clip to latched position.v

7. A structure to be latched comprising walls forming a compartment openat its front, a door closing 'said opening consisting of a plate thehorizontaledges whereof are folded back and provided with longitudinalbeads intermediate the edges of the folded back portions, embossedstraps formed in the folded back portions adjacent said lbeads formingsuitable pockets, latch clips mounted to reciprocate in said pockets,jamb-plates on the compartment' wall adjacent the door adapted to beengaged by said-clips, and means for actuating said clips to disengagethem from said jamb-plates simultaneously.

8. A device of the kind described comprising a wall having an opening, adoor closing said opening, a vertically movable latch clip,

said clip in unlatched position, and a member projecting from saidspring element through the door and adapted to be locked to said handle.i

Signed at Aurora, county of Kane and State of Illinois, this first dayof August, 1919.

AXEL F. ERICKSON. DANIEL W. SHIEK.

Witnesses:

ADAM F. Backus, JOHN E. CARR.

